Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1007/s12665-025-12380-4
Licence creative commons licence
Title (Primary) Combining FEFLOW and OpenGeoSys for interoperable workflows in environmental geotechnics
Author Heinze, J.; Lehmann, C.; Meisel, T.; Rink, K.; Kreye, P.; Renz, A.; Zeunert, S.; Rühaak, W.
Source Titel Environmental Earth Sciences
Year 2025
Department OESA; ENVINF
Volume 84
Issue 16
Page From art. 457
Language englisch
Topic T5 Future Landscapes
Keywords OpenGeoSys; OpenWorkFlow; FEFLOW; Converter; Interoperability; Open-source; Nuclear waste management
Abstract In this paper, we present a Python-based software package that enables the conversion of numerical models from FEFLOW, a commercial groundwater flow, mass and heat transport modelling software, to OpenGeoSys, an open-source software for the simulation of thermo-hydro-mechanical-chemical (THMC) processes in porous and fractured media. This converter enhances interoperability in complex workflows for environmental geotechnics, as multiple software packages are now available for use at different stages of the workflow, thus combining their individual capabilities. We verify the software’s correct implementation with various test cases that cover the converter’s entire feature set: different physical processes, various boundary conditions, and source terms. The conversion software permits the modification of FEFLOW models post-conversion, which we demonstrate with a real-world example. The converter offers flexibility that extends beyond the modelling approaches in FEFLOW by allowing the use of OGS features. Thereby, it is possible to combine the advantages of FEFLOW, such as the model setup capabilities, with simulations of processes that only OGS supports. The presented software enables users to convert FEFLOW models to widely used open formats such as VTK and XML, fostering collaboration in research and application projects. Furthermore, using an open-source code like OpenGeoSys for simulations enhances the transparency. Geological models of porous and fractured media in open-source formats facilitate the transfer of data and knowledge within large research initiatives, particularly in complex domains such as nuclear waste management.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=31192
Heinze, J., Lehmann, C., Meisel, T., Rink, K., Kreye, P., Renz, A., Zeunert, S., Rühaak, W. (2025):
Combining FEFLOW and OpenGeoSys for interoperable workflows in environmental geotechnics
Environ. Earth Sci. 84 (16), art. 457 10.1007/s12665-025-12380-4